Engineering? It’s too common!

Those days are gone when doing engineering was seen as something great. In today’s world there are innumerable fields to choose from, like arts, commerce, bio-tech, etc. Parents would rejoice that their children are engineers – they will earn big chunks of money. And they really did, but this is not true in today’s world. It’s not even possible. But most of the parents fail to realize this thing.

They think that their children will earn the same amounts as the engineers of that time did. I just feel sick of them. Even if their children want to do something else, they would force their children to do engineering. Seriously, I feel like abusing these parents, slapping them in front of the crowd. And on asking they reply “We want them to have better lives.” Oh really? I think the opposite. They want their children to do engineering so that their lives should get better.

Obviously, these parents are those who belong to middle class (I don’t believe in classes, but there wasn’t any other good term). Okay, agreed that they want better lifestyles, but I want to ask one question – Do you think your children are machines? Or that computer that will work when you will type a certain program into it? This is, seriously pathetic.

And children don’t have any other option – They have to obey what their parents are saying or just get out of the house and have no communication with them for years. And they usually choose the earlier one. You won’t believe, in my neighborhood there are a parent who have 4 children. Out of the four, 3 are engineers! One has done engineering, another one’s just gonna finish, and the third one has started (and failing in every subject). This is India, these are Indian parents and these are Indian children.

You won’t see this problem in well off households (or so-called upper classes). They give their children the freedom to do anything. They want their children to be whatever they want. If he/she wants to become an engineer, or doctor, or journalist or whatever, they will not force their children to do what they want.

And if you ask me, doing engineering will not give you huge chunks of money in today’s world as it did around 50 years ago. My sister is one of those who wanted to do engineering, and she did. And only in her college, there may be around 10,000 engineers! And, imagine the number of colleges only in Mumbai, may be around 500 colleges alone. Now calculate the number of students, I tell you 50, 00, 000 (5 million) engineers. Now in the whole country, you can’t even imagine.

Now some parents will say, “There are IITs* and NITs**” Well, they are overflowing with students as well. There are around 10 or 11 IITs in India. And all of them don’t really get good jobs. I know IITians who are working under my father for only a small amount of salary. And if IITians have such a good jobs (sarcasm), then for NITs, you can imagine yourself.

For example take my classmates: at least 85% of them have joined IIT coaching classes. Half of them can’t even solve a simple problem of math. And they say they will become engineers! I just can’t stop laughing at this! They just don’t know that they are playing with their lives. They are at risk of not becoming successful with their careers. They just don’t understand.

And these coaching classes begin right after one has given his/her tenth grade examinations, after that they have roughly around 3 months of holidays, before their results are announced. Guys, at least enjoy these holidays? Please? They are not enjoying their holidays, and they tell me that I would have joined an IIT class and not waste my time “enjoying”. They say, “There is your whole life for enjoying.” And I say, “Oh really? Then you don’t know the meaning of life. Life means, enjoying every moment fully and completely. Go f*** your life.” And these are the people who write in their Facebook bios this “I enjoy each and every moment of my life.” Double f*** yourself guys, you are just wasting your life, your energy and the best relationships you have for money, and that too you will not get.

Engineering is now not even common, but it’s OVERFLOWING with engineers. I can give you in writing that those people, who are doing engineering now or will do in next couple of years, will be unemployed. Only a few who are really, really passionate about it can do it, others are just jokers. Those who think they can do it, and are doing it successfully, make fun of those who can’t. But they don’t understand this simple thing that the people they are making fun of may have become more successful if they would have taken another field like arts or commerce.

Let me tell you about one of my friend. He is one of those guys who wants to do engineering as well as enjoy life. He will come at my place or just to hang out when I’ll call him. But, but, but, there is a villain in the story – his dad (and mom). In my opinion (based on the narrations of my friend of who’s dad he is), he is a complete jerk. He even abuses his own son, calls him rascal. Sheesh! I can’t even spit on these kinds of parents, they are so SICK!

Now, I want to know from you, do you agree with me? Or do you think that parents are not doing right with their own children? I think that they should be buried alive.

Your thoughts are in the right direction here at the right juncture of life. I hope that you try to build your career around your life and not vice-versa. Don’t fear to tread the road less taken just because the rest of herd is following catching each others tails, majority does not always need to be right 🙂

I agree that engineering should not be forced upon. It is a passion and no use pursuing it if you dont have passion . I am an engineer myself and i have done it passionately. However , the kind of society we are broutght up in India does not encourage “following your dream” as it were as they are afraid about future matrimonial stuff like my son is an engineer and all. We need to change our thinking big time i feel.

The bottomline is that humans are like sheep. They will follow everyone else and they like to stay in a herd. You can be secure that way[or rather a false sense of security for there are many wolves in sheep clothing], but the true winner is the person who stands out amongst the rest.

Its very hard to change this mentality, that the best students should do engineering and then management. But I am optimistic. Lets hope with time, better non-engineering colleges come up. After all, its not engineering that excites people, its the Money. You can read a book called Yellow on the Outside, Shame on the Inside. Its about the Asian culture, where money is the only thing that matters.

Engineering is a good field. Engineering from India is a terrible choice. Memorizing, cramming, rote learning….all that is engineering. Heck…..even in a programming lab, we had to rote learn 12 programs, and the final exam would be one of those 12 programs. There is no room for thought and analytical thinking.

Compare that to high class universities in Australia and America, and you get more thoughtful and passionate engineers. Indian universities kill the passion by focusing on quantity rather than quality. The opposite is true in Western countries.

I am a former engineering graduate from India, wanted to quit in the second year when I realized it was not for me, but my father forced me back, calling me a little girl. Guess where I am today….
I am just a technician in a tech company, looked down upon by other engineers, who wonder why I am not passionate about engineering when I have an engineering title. It is an undesired title chasing me wherever I go.

[…] is one of the things which I pointed out in one of my earlier posts i.e. Engineering? It’s too Common!. Those who go to IIT coaching classes or whatever think that once they will pass out of IIT or […]

[…] this way – Their children will go to school, then they will choose science, then they will do engineering/medical, will become an engineer or a doctor, and will earn huge chunks of money. This is Indian […]

[…] this way – Their children will go to school, then they will choose science, then they will do engineering/medical, will become an engineer or a doctor, and will earn huge chunks of money. This is Indian […]

[…] is one of the things which I pointed out in one of my earlier posts i.e. Engineering? It’s too Common!. Those who go to IIT coaching classes or whatever think that once they will pass out of IIT or […]